Difference between revisions of "George Piercy Leith"

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George Leith gained nine months' time on passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}} in December, 1892.  His first appointment was to {{UK-EmpressOfIndia}}, dated 13 January, 1894.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
 
George Leith gained nine months' time on passing out of {{UK-1Britannia}} in December, 1892.  His first appointment was to {{UK-EmpressOfIndia}}, dated 13 January, 1894.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
  
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Leith was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1900.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
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Following appointments in {{UK-Camperdown}} and {{UK-Volage}}, Leith received his first experience in torpedo craft when he was appointed to {{UK-Vivid}}, additional, for the {{UK-Decoy|f=t}}, operating out of Devonport, on 15 September, 1898.  He left her for an appointment in {{UK-Victorious}}, in China, on 10 January, 1899.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
  
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Leith was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1913.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
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Leith was returned to Western service when appointed to {{UK-Cambrian}} of the [[Training Squadron]] on 10 August, 1900 and then to {{UK-Hyacinth}} some time later in the year.  He was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 31 December, 1900 and ended his appointment in ''Hyacinth''.  On 7 February, 1901 he was given an appointment in {{UK-Terpsichore}} on the [[Cape of Good Hope Station]].  This would last over three years, ending on 25 April, 1904.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
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Leith returned to work in destroyers when he was appointed in command of {{UK-Opossum}} on 14 July for the annual manoeuvres of 1904.  These stints usually lasted just a few weeks or months, and Leith was cautioned after he committed an error in judgment which resulted in a collision between {{UK-Opossum}} and {{UK-Teazer}}.  He was then appointed to {{UK-Boscawen}} for ''Boscawen III'' later in the year.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
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Leith left ''Boscawen'' on 1 January, 1906 for an appointment in command of the {{UK-Dash|f=t}}. Leith grounded ''Dasher'' on Maplin Sands due to what was determined to be his own "want of care."  In April, he was placed in command of {{UK-Ness}}.  At the end of May, he moved to command {{UK-Conflict}}.  On 4 October 1906, he was given command of {{UK-Peterel}} of the [[Home Fleet]].<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
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On 29 October, 1907, Leith was appointed in command of the {{UK-Ribble|f=c}} of the Channel Fleet.  On 25 May, 1908, Leith aroused Their Lordships' "severe displeasure" over his failure to forward a report of a collision between {{UK-Ribble}} and S.S. ''Presto''.
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Leith was appointed from ''Ribble'' to command of the {{UK-Moorhen|f=t}} on the [[China Station]] on 19 April, 1909 and took over command of the ship on 17 June.  He received a favourable inspection report on her in April of 1910 and distinguished himself in 1912 by fitting her with an ad-hoc wireless installation.
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Leith was appointed in command of the {{UK-Topaze|f=t}} in mid-April, 1913 and promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1913.  On 4 August, he was appointed to ''President'', additional, where he was to provide "special service" prior to joining the Naval Mission to Greece in company with Admiral [[Mark Kerr]].  Leith left England on 17 September, 1913.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
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==Great War==
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Leith served in Greece, on the books of ''Egmont'' until 5 May 1916 when he embarked to return to England.
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On 19 August, 1916, Leith towed the torpedoed {{UK-Falmouth|f=t}}.
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On the night of 12 September, 1916, Leith exhibited a "skilful manner" when he attempted to ram an enemy submarine with the {{UK-1Spitfire|f=t}}.
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On 31 January, 1917, Leith was reportedly sick.
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On 2 October 1917, he grounded {{UK-Porpoise}} and was cautioned to exercise greater care in future.
  
 
==Interbellum==
 
==Interbellum==
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On 15 February, 1920, Leith took over command of the Danube Flotilla.  He returned to England when he was relieved by Captain [[John Fenwick Warton|Warton]].
 +
 
Leith was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 19 January, 1924.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
 
Leith was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 19 January, 1924.<ref>Leith Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/44/437.|D7576629}} f. 439.</ref>
  

Revision as of 14:53, 28 November 2016

Captain (retired) George Piercy Leith (3 August, 1877 – 31 August, 1945) served in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

George Leith gained nine months' time on passing out of Britannia in December, 1892. His first appointment was to Empress of India, dated 13 January, 1894.[1]

Following appointments in Camperdown and Volage, Leith received his first experience in torpedo craft when he was appointed to H.M.S. Vivid, additional, for the destroyer Decoy, operating out of Devonport, on 15 September, 1898. He left her for an appointment in Victorious, in China, on 10 January, 1899.[2]

Leith was returned to Western service when appointed to Cambrian of the Training Squadron on 10 August, 1900 and then to Hyacinth some time later in the year. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1900 and ended his appointment in Hyacinth. On 7 February, 1901 he was given an appointment in Terpsichore on the Cape of Good Hope Station. This would last over three years, ending on 25 April, 1904.[3]

Leith returned to work in destroyers when he was appointed in command of Opossum on 14 July for the annual manoeuvres of 1904. These stints usually lasted just a few weeks or months, and Leith was cautioned after he committed an error in judgment which resulted in a collision between Opossum and Teazer. He was then appointed to Boscawen for Boscawen III later in the year.[4]

Leith left Boscawen on 1 January, 1906 for an appointment in command of the Template:UK-Dash. Leith grounded Dasher on Maplin Sands due to what was determined to be his own "want of care." In April, he was placed in command of Ness. At the end of May, he moved to command Conflict. On 4 October 1906, he was given command of Peterel of the Home Fleet.[5]

On 29 October, 1907, Leith was appointed in command of the River Class destroyer Ribble of the Channel Fleet. On 25 May, 1908, Leith aroused Their Lordships' "severe displeasure" over his failure to forward a report of a collision between Ribble and S.S. Presto.

Leith was appointed from Ribble to command of the gunboat Moorhen on the China Station on 19 April, 1909 and took over command of the ship on 17 June. He received a favourable inspection report on her in April of 1910 and distinguished himself in 1912 by fitting her with an ad-hoc wireless installation.

Leith was appointed in command of the third class protected cruiser Topaze in mid-April, 1913 and promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1913. On 4 August, he was appointed to President, additional, where he was to provide "special service" prior to joining the Naval Mission to Greece in company with Admiral Mark Kerr. Leith left England on 17 September, 1913.[6]

Great War

Leith served in Greece, on the books of Egmont until 5 May 1916 when he embarked to return to England.

On 19 August, 1916, Leith towed the torpedoed sloop Falmouth.

On the night of 12 September, 1916, Leith exhibited a "skilful manner" when he attempted to ram an enemy submarine with the destroyer Spitfire.

On 31 January, 1917, Leith was reportedly sick.

On 2 October 1917, he grounded Porpoise and was cautioned to exercise greater care in future.

Interbellum

On 15 February, 1920, Leith took over command of the Danube Flotilla. He returned to England when he was relieved by Captain Warton.

Leith was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 19 January, 1924.[7]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Frederick G. Brine 		Captain of H.M.S. Opossum
14 Jul, 1904[8] – 1904[9] 		Succeeded by
Claude H. Woodward
Preceded by
John G. de O. Coke 		Captain of H.M.S. Dasher
1 Jan, 1906[10] – 1 Apr, 1906[11] 		Succeeded by
L. Stanley Holbrook
Preceded by
? 		Captain of H.M.S. Ness
1 Apr, 1906[12] – 28 May, 1906[13] 		Succeeded by
Stanley V. Ellis
Preceded by
Charles W. Chipp 		Captain of H.M.S. Conflict
28 May, 1906[14] – 4 Oct, 1906[15] 		Succeeded by
William C. Castle
Preceded by
Osmond J. Prentis 		Captain of H.M.S. Peterel
4 Oct, 1906[16][17] – 29 Oct, 1907[18] 		Succeeded by
Mark G. Newton
Preceded by
Percy L. H. Noble 		Captain of H.M.S. Ribble
29 Oct, 1907[19][20] – 19 Apr, 1909[21] 		Succeeded by
Sandford G. R. Nevile
Preceded by
Robert E. Vaughan 		Captain of H.M.S. Moorhen
19 Apr, 1909[22][23] – 10 Oct, 1912[24] 		Succeeded by
Victor P. Alleyne
Preceded by
Charles J. Wintour 		Captain of H.M.S. Topaze
14 Apr, 1913[25][26] – 4 Aug, 1913[27] 		Succeeded by
William J. B. Law
Preceded by
Hugh D. Colville 		Captain of H.M.S. Porpoise
May, 1916[28] – 23 Oct, 1917[29] 		Succeeded by
Frederick W. F. Fegen
Preceded by
John F. Grant-Dalton 		Captain of H.M.S. Armadale Castle
13 Dec, 1917[30][31] – 14 Jan, 1919 		Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  2. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  3. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  4. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  5. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  6. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  7. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  8. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  9. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  10. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  11. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  12. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  13. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  14. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  15. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  16. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  17. ↑ The Navy List. (March, 1907). p. 356.
  18. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  19. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  20. ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 366.
  21. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  22. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  23. ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 347.
  24. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  25. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  26. ↑ The Navy List. (August, 1913). p. 387.
  27. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  28. ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 396m.
  29. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  30. ↑ Leith Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/437. f. 439.
  31. ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 988.

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